The Working Actor NYC

Stop waiting for permission to own the parts of your career that already belong to you. What does it really mean to be in control of your acting career? In this Independence Day episode of The Working Actor NYC Podcast , Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood unpack the difference between control, ownership and true creative independence. Using real comments from actors in the community, they explore...

Why does walking into a room full of your peers feel so intimidating? Benjamin and Patrick unpack the invisible scorecard we all carry—and why genuine curiosity might be the best networking strategy you'll ever learn. When you walk into a room full of people in your industry... what's the first thing your brain starts measuring? Who's more successful? Who already knows everyone? Who looks more con...

Actors deal with rejection a lot. This week, we're ranking their coping strategies from healthy to completely unhinged. This week on The Working Actor NYC Podcast, we're diving into one of the most important—and ridiculous—parts of being an actor: coping with the ups and downs of the business. After a field report from Tribeca Festival, where Benjamin shares what he's learning from inside one of t...

Every actor has at least one audition story they still think about at 2am. This week, we gathered around the internet campfire to relive some of the funniest, most mortifying, most chaotic audition stories we’ve ever heard — hopping into a bread truck to make it to Ripley Grier, singing West Side Story with a surprise bell choir accompaniment, self tapes shot like Oscar-winning cinema before anyon...

The rejection you didn't see coming. What happens when you help build a project… and then the project moves forward without you? In this LIVE episode of The Working Actor NYC podcast, Benjamin and Patrick dig into one of the most painful — and least discussed — experiences actors face: being part of the reading, workshop, lab, or regional production… and then not being invited back. Benjamin share...

Do you need to be selfish to succeed as an actor… or is that just insecurity in disguise? We break down confidence, ego, and the real behaviors that shape a career in the room. In this episode of The Working Actor NYC, we tackle a deceptively simple question: do you have to be selfish to succeed as an actor? What starts as a surprising on-set interaction quickly opens up a deeper conversation abou...

Are you falling behind as an actor… or does it just feel that way? In this LIVE episode of The Working Actor NYC, Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood dive into one of the most destructive beliefs actors carry: the idea that everyone else is ahead. They unpack the comparison trap, the illusion created by social media, and why acting careers don’t follow timelines — even though we keep trying to for...

Type gets you in the room. Brand gets you cast. In this LIVE episode of The Working Actor NYC Podcast , Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood introduce their new format — featuring real-world field reports, live audience questions, and deep dives into essential acting career topics. This week, they tackle one of the most misunderstood concepts in the industry: type vs brand — and how understanding t...

If self-tapes feel like punishment, there’s a good chance you’re approaching them completely wrong. Self-tapes didn’t kill auditions. They just changed the rules. Self-tape auditions are now the standard for film, TV, and many theatre projects — but many actors still treat self tapes like a chore instead of a creative opportunity. In this episode of The Working Actor NYC , Benjamin Howes and Patri...

A conversation about longevity, identity, and staying alive to the work. Acting careers don’t follow straight lines — they move through seasons. In this episode, we explore the reality every long-term actor eventually faces: the transition from one chapter of work to another. Roles evolve, identities shift, and the challenge becomes not holding onto what once worked, but staying responsive to what...

A BFA doesn't make you a working actor. What’s the difference between foundational training and ongoing training as a professional actor? In this episode, we unpack the distinction between degree-based programs (BFA/MFA) and the kind of training actors pursue once they’re working in the industry. Neither of us came up through conservatory programs — but we’re both deeply committed to ongoing train...

Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood are back with Season 2 of The Working Actor NYC Podcast — and they’re starting 2026 with an honest conversation about goals, momentum, and what’s actually changing in the acting industry. In this episode, they talk about: Why traditional goal-setting doesn’t always serve actors The difference between chasing moments and building momentum Industry shifts they’re...

This is our Christmas week episode — and a look back at a year that changed everything. In this conversation, Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood reflect on 2025: the growth, the surprises, and the evolution of The Working Actor NYC . What started as an audio-only podcast recorded at a dining table became: • a video podcast • a full YouTube channel • daily short-form content • weekly long-form epi...

Every working actor knows the feeling: watching a truly top-level performer and thinking… “How do they do that every day?” In this episode, Patrick Richwood and Benjamin Howes break down the real habits, routines, and rituals we’ve seen in the pros — the ones that keep them consistent, resilient, and ready, even when life throws curveballs. We talk about things like: 🎭 Would you still show up to...

It’s the holidays, and that means one thing: people everywhere are trying to figure out what on earth to buy the actor in their life. So in this episode of The Working Actor NYC, Patrick and I put together the ultimate gift guide — featuring 20 actor gifts that range from genuinely helpful… to deeply questionable… to what fever dream did this Etsy creator wake up from? We’ve got everything from:...

From Broadway to birthday clowns — we’re talking every acting job out there, and why they all count. In this episode, we take a wild ride through every corner of the acting world — from Broadway and Off-Broadway stages to national tours, regional houses, and community theatre. We break down film and TV work, commercials, and the surprising ways acting shows up in the corporate world — training vid...

Spot the monster in your cast before opening night. Every actor has faced them — the narcissists, the laugh snatchers, the egomaniacs who turn rehearsals into nightmares. In this Halloween-inspired episode, Benjamin Howes sits down with actor Patrick Richwood to cast these toxic colleagues as monsters of the stage and set. Whether you’ve dealt with a Narcissactor, an Ego-Saurus Rex, or just a desp...

There's a fine line between blowing off steam - and burning the whole cast. Every actor vents — it’s practically part of the job description. But when does a little healthy release turn into full-on toxic dumping that drags down the energy in the room? In this episode, Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood dig into the fine line between blowing off steam and becoming the person everyone avoids at re...

From baby face to “dad bod” roles — the actor’s aging curve. Getting older in the acting industry comes with its own set of challenges — and some unexpected advantages. In this episode, Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood unpack the realities of aging on stage and screen: the shifting dynamics of age in a cast, whether age brings respect or obsolescence, and how actors navigate playing older or yo...

Your type gets you in the room. Your wheelhouse books it. Want to land more acting roles? It’s not just about “knowing your type.” In this episode of The Working Actor NYC Podcast , Benjamin and Patrick break down the secret edge that helps actors actually book the room: your wheelhouse . You’ll learn what casting type really means, how it differs from your wheelhouse, and why understanding both i...

Rejection isn’t the end — it’s part of the job. Actors face rejection constantly — but what does it really mean, and how do you keep going when it hurts? In this episode of The Working Actor NYC, hosts Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood break down the truth about rejection: why it feels so personal, why it’s not a verdict on your talent or your worth, and how to shift your mindset so it doesn’t d...

Stop guessing. Start submitting smart. Want a legit acting agent? Here's how to actually get one — and keep them. In this Part 2 deep dive of The Working Actor NYC Podcast, Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood break down what really works when it comes to landing great representation in today’s industry. Now that your materials are ready (headshot, resumé, reel, website), what’s next? We walk you t...

Getting a good agent isn't luck - it's strategy. In this first half of our two-part deep dive, we're breaking down what it really takes to land a legit agent—and what you need to know before you even hit "send" on that email. We’re covering: What agents can and can’t do for your career Patrick’s real-life stories from both Hollywood and New York The exact materials you’ll need to stand out: headsh...

Ever walked out of an audition sweating bullets and replaying every word in your head? Same. Let’s fix that. In this episode of The Working Actor NYC , Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood break down the real, messy, very human anxiety that comes with being a working actor—and what we actually do about it. We cover 14 practical coping strategies that have helped us (and countless friends) navigate:...

Feeling stuck? You’re not alone! In this episode of The Working Actor NYC , Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood dive into procrastination and perfectionism — the two sneaky career killers actors face every day. 🎭 We share why it happens, what it looks like specifically for actors today , and real strategies to break the cycle: accountability buddies, “schedule over mood,” and more. We’ve been the...